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3 reasons why the Cleveland Browns aren’t ready to win the AFC North

By Greg Newland

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kevin Stefanski
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Kevin Stefanski /
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Too many new faces

CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 22: Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns chases after Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 22: Sione Takitaki #44 of the Cleveland Browns chases after Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens during the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

The Browns roster is likely top-10 in the NFL right now on paper, but that talent must mesh on the field before it can be effective. COVID-19 will do the team no favors with limited face-to-face time before the season. Yes, virtual training is great, but for some of the young players expected to start in 2020, it will be a real challenge.

While the roster is talented, keep in mind there will be four new starters on offense and five new major contributors on the defense. Not only are there a lot of new faces, but all the players who were here in 2019 will also still be learning new offensive and defensive systems.

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Jedrick Wills (offensive tackle), Jacob Phillips (linebacker), and Grant Delpit (safety) are three rookies who could easily be opening day starters. All were drafted in the first three rounds of the 2020 draft, but there will still be some adjusting to game speed that just can’t happen in practice. Sione Takitaki is a second-year player who saw very little action in 2019 but will likely be asked to step up in a big way at linebacker next season.

The secondary will be the biggest concern to start the season. It is talented with Delpit, Karl Joseph, and Andrew Sendejo, but none of these guys were with the Browns in 2020. Communication is key in the secondary and it will take time to develop. Without a doubt, in the first few weeks of the season, you can expect a busted coverage here or there. Let’s hope the pass-rush is enough to help not give up a big play out of it.

There is excitement for each one of these new and young faces, but it will take time for them to mesh as a group.  With a shortened offseason and preseason program, this will be even more difficult to establish before the 2020 season starts. By the end of the year, the team will be clicking on all cylinders, but it could take time in the beginning and will be another reason the Browns won’t win the AFC North in 2020.

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